Takes notes from the movie and creates an enjoyable experience, however leaves no lasting impression.
One thing for certain is that if Mr. Jackson’s King Kong film is anything like the video game that’s based on the same film, he may very well have a king-sized hit on his hands.
Gamers begin their virtual quest of epic proportions playing as scriptwriter John “Jack” Driscoll. Also along for the ride is the annoyingly dedicated movie director Carl Denham, the desperate actress Ann Darrow, the admirably determined Captain Hayes, and a handful of extra movie crewmen. Together these characters will risk life and limb as they set off to sea in search of the mysterious Skull Island.
Speaking of Skull Island, the place is a haven for prehistoric and other unusual breeds of beasts. In this strange land it is commonplace to encounter dinosaurs, mammoth bat-like creatures, giant centipedes, and last, but certainly not least, the locals’ favorite giant ape.
Then again, fighting these unique creatures is nothing to scoff at. These creatures are relatively smart and possess the artificial intelligence to not only hunt players down, but to make quick work of their fragile human bodies. The bad news is that health bars are nonexistent in this game.
Depending on which creature is attacking can also depend on how much damage can be taken. Smaller bat creatures can spend all day pecking away until finally players are dead, however running into a blood-thirsty T-Rex will put a damper on the expedition quite suddenly.
The good news is that plenty of weapons and alleys will keep gamers covered for the majority of the game. However, the weapons in “King Kong” are a bit different than in other first-person-shooters. Of course a little known island that is scarcely inhabited by man doesn’t harbor such things as rocket launchers and grenades, but rather weapons of a more makeshift kind.
While some guns are available by breaking small wooden crates dropped from the crew’s supply plane, it will be weapons like spears, dinosaur bones, and even fire that will end up being the saving grace for gamers. Spears and bones can be picked up and thrown like javelins into oncoming enemies, while fire can be controlled on the tips of said spears and tossed into the brushes to make a huge brushfire to burn enemies alive.
Anything is fair game when it comes to survival.
The game “King Kong” is exactly what a movie game should be. It allows gamers to jump into a game that feels just like its movie counterpart and play their favorite parts the way they would want it done. Every creature, sound, and character in this game has an incredible likeness that will keep fans of Jackson’s movie very content.
Even the talented actors and actresses in the film such as Adrian Brody, Naomi Watts, and Jack Black have all provided the voice work for their virtual counterparts.
Only a handful of things keep “King Kong” from being a superb game. The biggest issue of all is the length of the game. Sitting down for five hours and beating this game is not entirely out of the question. It’s that short. The other issue is that while gamers can play as Kong through some levels, it’s not nearly enough to balance the human missions.
Other than that, “King Kong” is well worth a rent. While the unlockable stuff really isn’t worth the effort, the game is enjoyable enough on its own to play through a couple of times. Just don’t expect much replay value after that.